Sphygmomanometer

ABSTRACT

A SPHYGMOMANOMETER HAVING A CONSTRICTION BLOOD PRESSURE CUFF WITH AN INFLATABLE PORTION HAVING A BUILT-IN STETHOSCOPE AUDIO PICKUP. A SINGLE TRANSMISSION DUCT OR TUBE IS COOPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE INFLATABLE PORTION OF THE CUFF AND THE STETHOSCOPE AUDIO PICKUP SUCH THAT PNEUMATIC PRESSURE MAY BE SUPPLIED TO THE INFLATABLE INTERIOR OF THE CUFF THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION DUCT WHILE AT THE SAME TIME SOUND IS TRANSMITTED FROM THE AUDIO PICKUP THROUGH THE SAME TRANSMISSION DUCT TO THE EAR OF AN OPERATOR. A HOUSING IS ALSO PROVIDED TO AUTOMATICALLY RETRACT THE TRANSMISSION DUCT INTO THE HOUSING FOR CONVENIENT STORAGE.

NOV. 23, 1971 QATES SPHYGMOMANOMETER 3 Sheets-Shout 1 Filed May 14, 1969/NVEN 1'02. DENNIS 0/1 T E5 (1420 rHfesdOwonlf/es D. G. OATESSPHYGMOMANOMETER Nov. 23, ,1971

3 Sheets-Shoot Filed May 14, 1969 /N v- TOE. DENNIS 6. 0A T55 C A 20rHfesfn/e'omms H/sA T TOEA/E Y5 D. G. OATES SPHYGMOMANOMETER Nov. 23,1971 I5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 14, 1969 by VENTOE. DEA/ms 6'. 0/; ms

6 E H W QM m KA i mH m C United States Patent M 3,621,845SPHYGMOMANOMETER Dennis G. Oates, 250 Darragh St., Pittsburgh, Pa. 15213Filed May 14, 1969, Ser. No. 824,593 Int. Cl. A611) 5/02 US. Cl.128-2.05 S 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A sphygmomanometerhaving a constriction blood pressure cuff with an inflatable portionhaving a built-in stethoscope audio pickup. A single transmission ductor tube is cooperatively connected to the inflatable portion of the cuffand the stethoscope audio pickup such that pneumatic pressure may besupplied to the inflatable interior of the cuff through the transmissionduct while at the same time sound is transmitted from the audio pickupthrough the same transmission duct to the ear of an operator. A housingis also provided to automatically retract the transmission duct into thehousing for convenient storage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Blood pressure measurements are commonlyobtained by the use of a stethoscope in combination with a bloodpressure cuff in order to monitor the Korotkows sounds for determinationof the systolic and diastolic blood pressures. This conventionalprocedure is thoroughly discussed in US. Pat. 3,416,516 and thedisclosure therein is incorporated herein by reference as a teaching forthe proper method of measuring blood pressure.

The conventional blood pressure cuff transducer and blood pressure cuffpresently enjoying widely accepted use have inherent problems andcomplication when stethoscopes are employed in combination with theblood pressure cuff.

The first problem encountered by the physician generally inVOlVes thewaste of vital minutes in the untanglement of the stethoscope and bloodpressure cuff transmission lines and components.

The normal blood pressure cuff is provided with at least two flexibletubes of considerable length which extend therefrom to connect to amanometer and a pneumatic bulb pump respectively. Another flexible tubeis provided for the stethoscope which connects a stethoscope audiopickup, which is held against the patients arm by the blood pressurecuff secured therearound, and extends a considerable length to connectto the stethoscope earpiece at the other end.

These implements are generally stored together on a shelf or the like,and readily become entangled and intertwined with each other, therebyleaving an unsightly mess and requiring the use of precious moments forthe untanglement thereof while a patients life may be in jeopardy.

Other complications arise when the combination is put to actual use. Forexample, in emergencies or in preparation of a patient for surgery, thestethoscope and blood pressure cuff are secured to the patients arm inthe prescribed manner and a mask is placed over the patients face toadminister the required oxygen or other prescribed gases such ashalothane or nitrous oxide. The physician must hold the chin of thepatient up to prevent the patients tongue from blocking off the tracheaand at the same time he is required to use the opposite hand to pump upthe blood pressure cuff. The physician then meets another predicamentwhile carrying out these procedures in that he is often required toassist patient breathing by the squeezing of a flexible sack or bag inorder to admin- 3,621,845 Patented Nov. 23, 1971 ister the properamounts of the gas to the patient when the patient is unable to breatheon his own. Because of this, the physician cannot complete themeasurement of the patients blood pressure and thereby has no means ofdetermining whether he has administered too much of the gas, such thathe has placed the atient into shock or cardiac arrest. Thus it isextremely important that the physician have blood pressure readings fromthe very beginning of the procedure and that he further have his handsfree to accomplish other required procedures.

While the physician is assisting the patients breathing by squeezing theflexible sack, a period of three to four minutes elapses wherein theblood pressure is not being taken. The physician may then find that thepatients breathing must be further assisted by intubation whereby alaryngoscope is placed in the patients mouth and extends down the throatof the patient with a tube attached thereto to forceably provide the gasdirectly to the lungs. As previously pointed out, since the physicianhas no blood pressure reading as of yet, he has no means of determiningwhether he is administering excessive gases to the patient such that heis placing him into shock or cardiac arrest.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the principal object of the presentinvention to provide a sphygmomanometer or combination blood pressurecuff and transducer which does not become entangled and is easy to applyand further permits the physician to measure the patients blood pressurewhile also permitting him to carry on other required functions.

The sphygmomanometer of the present invention comprises a constrictionblood pressure cuff having an inflatable portion with means to secure itabout a portion of the human body. A stethoscope audio pickup is securedto the cuff and consists of a transducer body having a concavity thereinto receive sound transmissions from the cavity opening. A connectionduct connects the audio pickup cavity to a stethoscope earpiece whichhas at least one ear terminus such that the connection duct togetherwith the cavity and the earpiece provides a sound transmission duct forthe transmission of sound from the opening of the cavity to the ear ofan operator.

A passage means pneumatically connects the sound transmission duct withthe interior of the inflatable portion of the blood pressure cuff. Adiaphragm means is mounted in the sound transmission duct to permit themaintenance of a pneumatic pressure in the inflatable portion of thecuff while at the same time, permitting sound transmission through theduct to the operators ear. An inflating means and manometer means areconnected to the sound transmission duct intermediate the diaphragmmeans and the cuff end termination of the sound transmission duct topueurnatically inflate and deflate the blood pressure cuff and toindicate the pneumatic pressure retained therein respectively.

In this manner, only one transmission tube is required to extend fromthe blood pressure cuff in order to simultaneously supply pneumaticpressure to the inflatable portion of the cuff and sound transmission tothe ear of the operator as the pneumatic inflation means and themanometer may both have throughway passages extending freely orunobstructed therethrough such that they are connected in seriesdirectly in the sound transmission duct.

If one does not desire the inflation means and the manometer means to beplaced in the same single line, other extension lines as required may beled from the single sound transmission duct to other removed areas asrequired.

The sphygmomanometer of the present invention is further characterizedin that the diaphragm means preferably consists of two spaced soundtransmission diaphragms pneumatically blocking the sound transmissionduct adjacent its opposite end. A second sound transmission daphragmmeans pneumatically sealing the sound transmission duct between each earterminus of the stethoscope earpiece and the adjacent of the twoaforementioned spaced diaphragms is also preferably provided as furthernovelty as hereinafter explained.

The present invention is further characterized in that a check valve maybe provided in the sound transmission duct between the diaphragm meanssealing the ear terminus of the stethoscope earpiece and the nextadjacent diaphragm sealing the sound transmission duct. In this manner,a safety precaution is provided in case the latter mentioned diaphragmshould happen to burst under pressure. The diaphragm most closelyadjacent the ear terminus of the earpiece prevents the sudden impact ofthe gaseous pressure escaping, from injuring the ear of the operator andthe check valve is operable to exhaust this gas under pressure fromwithin the duct to the exterior such that a very small pressure will beactually applied to the diaphragm most adjacent the ear terminus of thestethoscope earpiece in order to prevent it from also bursting. When theearpiece is provided with two car termini, then of course, one or two ofthe latter mentioned safety diaphragms may be employed such that bothear termini will always be pressure sealed if the main pressurediaphragm should ever burst under pressure.

Although a sphygmomanometer employing a single transmission duct for thepassage of pneumatic pressure and sounds has been suggested in the priorart, they are completely inadequate if not altogether incapable ofserving the purpose intended. For example, one known apparatus requiresthat the stethoscope sound pickup or transducer be mechanically forcedagainst the patients arm to function and furthermore, provides nopneumatic sealing of the stethoscope transducer opening to the bodywhereby either characteristic taken alone or together prevents reliablereadings. In such prior art devices a falsely high diastolic readingwill be obtained, that is, it is the mechanical pressure of applicationwhich will cut off the artery circulation rather than the pneumaticpressure retained within the device.

The sphygmomanometer of the present invention is further characterizedby a housing wherein a tube retraction means is mounted to receive aflexible portion of the connection duct between the stethoscope earpieceand the blood pressure cuff to permit withdrawal of a desired length ofthe flexible duct from the housing and automatic retraction thereof uponthe actuation of a release such as might be actuated by a light tug onthe flexible tubing or duct. Two of these tube retraction means may beprovided within the same housing so that the stethoscope earpiece may beretracted toward the housing on one retraction means and the bloodpressure cuff may be retracted toward the housing on the otherretraction means.

Thus, by this means, there is no problem as experienced by the prior artof interentanglement of the stethoscope and blood pressure cuff leadlines which are neatly stored or coiled within the housing.

This may be further characterized by the provision of a foot-operatedair pump for the inflation means to inflate the blood pressure cuff.This pump preferably is provided with a flexible tube which also leadsto the same housing and is connected therein to the sound transmissionduct which leads to the earpiece and blood pressure cuff at oppositeends. This foot operated pump thereby permits the physician to haveanother free hand for other required functions which is not permitted bythe conventional hand-operated bulb pump. The pump, like theconventional hand-operated bulb pump, is provided with a pneumaticrelease to permit controlled deflation of the pneumatic cuff. However,the foot-operated pump of the present invention provides a pneumaticrelease which is also foot-operated.

The present invention is further characterized in that the manometer ismounted in the aforementioned housing such that it may be viewedexteriorly thereof.

The present invention thus provides a storage unit which preventsentanglement of flexible connection ducts as experienced in the priorart thereby saving precious time which may even be required to save thelife of a patient.

Other objects and advantages appear hereinafter in the followingdescription and claims.

The accompanying drawings show, for the purpose of exemplificationwithout limiting the invention or the claims thereto, certain practicalembodiments illustrating the principles of this invention wherein:

FIG. 1a is a front view in partial section illustrating one embodimentof a stethoscope earpiece of the present invention.

FIG. lb is a top view of a hand-operated pneumatic pump and manometercombination for use in combination with the earpiece illustrated in FIG.1a.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the stethoscope earpiece shown in FIG. la astaken along section line 22.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional elevation view of one embodiment of theblood pressure cuff of the present invention which may be used incombination with the structures of FIGS. la and lb.

.FIG. 4 is a cross sectional elevation view taken along line 44 in FIG.3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view in front elevation illustrating oneembodiment of the housing interior of the present invention for thestorage of interconnecting flexible tubing of the structures of FIGS.10, 1b, 3 and 4 or the like.

FIG. 6 is a view and front elevation of the closed housing illustratedin FIG. 5

FIG. 7a is a plan view of a foot-operated pneumatic pump illustratinganother embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7b is a view in front elevation of the foot-operated pump shown inFIG. 7a.

Referring to FIG. la, the stethoscope earpiece 1 is provided with twosound transmission tubes 2 which are slightly flexible to permit them tobe spread apart for insertion of the ear terminus pieces 3 in theoperators ear.

The ear terminus pieces 3 are threadably secured to the ends of tubes 2as indicated at 4.

Each ear terminus piece 3 is provided with an internal annular shoulder5 which seats its respective sound transmission diaphragm 6. Thus, wheneach ear terminus 3 is threadably secured on its respective end of thetubes 2, the annular abutment face 7 of the tube ends engages thediaphragms 6 and firmly maintains them in seated engagement with annularshoulders 5.

Each ear terminus 3 is provided with an opening 8 therethrough to permittransmission of sound to the operators ear.

The opposite ends of the semiflexible tubes 2 are snugly engaged in thebore 10 of the T body or member 11.

The base 12 of member 11 extends downwardly and is provided with anipple 13 at its lower end to securely engage a flexible tube 14 ofrubber or plastic thereover.

When the stethoscope earpiece 1 is used in actual practice, flexibletube 14 will be provided with an internal pneumatic pressure equal tothat contained within an associated inflatable pouch of a blood pressurecuff. Therefore a diaphragm 15 is provided to pneumatically seal off theinternal sound transmission duct of the earpiece 1 as provided by tubes2 and bore 10, from the sound transmission duct provided by the internalpassage of flexible tube 14.

Diaphragm 15 is seated on annular shoulder 16 of coupling 17 which isthreadably engaged with the base portion 12 of the T coupling member 11.The abutting annular end 18 of base portion 12 engages the diaphragm toseat the same firmly in annular shoulder 16.

Thus, if diaphragm 15 should ever give way or burst under pressure,diaphragms 6 in each ear terminus 3 will prevent injury to the operatorsear.

As an additional safety factor, a one-way or check valve 20 is providedin the upper surface 21 of T member 11 as best illustrated in FIGS. 1aand 2. Valve 20 consists of an annular opening 22 interrupted by theY-shaped web member 23 having a central hub with central opening 24theretbrough.

The disc-shape rubber flap or check valve 25 is loosely seated onannular shoulder or seat 26 and is provided with a central downwardlydepending stem 29 which is received in hub bore 24 and provide with themushroom tip 27 to prevent accidental removal of stem 29 from hub 'bore24. Thus the disc-shape flexible valve member 25 is centrally secured tothe T member 11 and permits the exhaust of gas under pres-sure fromwithin passage to the exterior should diaphragm burst under pressurethereby greatly reducing the escaping pneumatic pressure which mightotherwise be applied to diaphragms 6.

The valve member has been removed from FIG. 2 to permit unobstructedviewing of the Y-shapd web member 23. However, the periphery of thevalve member 25 is outlined with a broken line to illustrate theperiphery engagement thereof on seat 26.

Three-way valve 30 is provided in stem 12 of the T member 11 and may bemanipulated by handle 31 to provide a clear sound transmission passagefrom tube 14 to passage or bore 10 or from passage 32, which extendsfrom member 12 at 90 from the passage provided by tube 14, to passage orbore 10.

Bore 32 is defined by tube extension or nipple 33 which permits theattachment of another flexible transmission duct or tube (not shown) forthe use of a second stethoscope pickup such as might be used as aperiocardial stethoscope. Thus, the operator may readily switch betweenthe stethoscope secured in a blood pressure cuff and fed by tube 14 to asecond stethoscope pick-up which would be secured by another flexibletube to nipple 33.

Referring to FIG. lb, a hand-operated bulb pump 34 is provided with aone-way inlet or check valve 35 and a one-way outlet or check valveprovided within the annular housing 36 which leads to a passage ortransmission duct through attached manometer 37 flexible tube or duct 38to the T coupling 39.

Manometer 37 is of the anaroid type having a meter face 40 whichindicates pressure in millimeters of mercury. Manometer 37 therebymeasures the air pressure retained within the transmission duct providedby tubes 38, 14 (which leads to the stethoscope earpiece), tube 41 whichleads to a blood pressure cuff transducer and inflation pouch to bediscussed hereinafter, and the T coupling 39.

Knurled knob 42 is provided as a release to permit controllabledeflation of a blood pressure inflation pouch via tubes 41 and 38.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the blood pressure cuff 45 per se isgenerally of the conventional type and is provided with an inflatablebladder or portion 46 which connects with the transmission duct 47,which is provided by flexible tubing 41 and the rigid plastic tube 48,via passage 50 through the stethoscope audio pickup or transducer body51 as best illustrated in FIG. 4.

The transducer body 51 is preferably molded as a unitary member of asubstance such as rubber such that the member is pliable and flexible.The member is arcuately curved to define substantially parallel concaveand convex exterior surfaces 52 and 53, respectively. A cavity '54 whichopens to the concave surface 52 is formed in the member 51 and disposedcentrally therein and is elongated in the direction normal to the axisof curvature of surfaces 52 and 53.

The opening of cavity 54 to surface 52 constitutes the end of the soundtransmission duct which begins at the ear termini 3 of the earpiece 2shown in FIG. 1a.

Cavity 54 is pneumatically sealed from the exterior ofthe blood pressurecuff 45 by means of the inflatable pouch wall 55 which together withpouch wall 56 of the blood pressure cuff 45 defines the inflatableportion 46. The flexible wall 55 also provides a sound transmissiondiaphragm means for the transmission of sound from the exterior of wall55 to the interior of cavity 54 for transmission to the ear of anoperator. The transducer member 51 has its concave cylindrical surface52 glued or otherwise secured to the back surface of flexible wall 55.

The arrangement shown thus permits the use of the same passage 47 forthe transmission of sound while employing the same for inflation of theinflatable portion 46 of blood pressure cuff 45. Due to the fact thatthe pressure in the interior of cavity 54 is equal to the pressure inthe inflatable portion 46, there is no possibility of the cavity 54collapsing. Furthermore, as the atmosphere in the transmission duct 47and cavity 54 is much more dense than ambient, sound is more readilytransmitted from membrane 52 to cavity 54 and from there to the membrane15 mounted at the bottom of the earpiece illustrated in FIG. 1a than ispossible with the conventional stethoscope which has an ambientatmosphere within its sound transmission duct.

The flexible walls 55 and 56 which define the inflatable portion 46,meet at juncture 57, at which point wall 55 continues to form flexiblewall 58. A Velcro fastener 60 is provided on the exterior surface onflexible wall 56 and on the interior side of the terminating end offlexible wall 58 in order to provide a means to secure the cuff in itswrapped position around a portion of the human body.

If desired, the inflatable portion 46 of the cuff 45 may be employed asthe stethoscope audio pickup instead of the cavity 54 of body 51.However, the pickup body 51 is better insulated from the pickup ofunwanted outside noises.

In FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, like elements as those which appear in thepreviously mentioned figures are given the same numeral designation.

In order to provide neat storage and unentanglement of thesphygmomanometer of the present invention, the present invention isfurther characterized by a storage housing 61 which has mounted thereina bias tube retractionmeans which in this instance consists of tworetraction spools or reels 62 and 63 respectively, to permit thewithdrawal of a desired length of the flexible duct or tubing 14 and 41from the housing and automatic retraction thereof upon the actuation ofa release actuated by a light tug on either of the flexible tubes 14 or41.

The reels 62 and 63 are internally spring biased for retraction relativeto their stationary axles 68 which are rigidly mounted to brackets 64 bymeans of the machine screws 65. Brackets 64 are in turn rigidly mountedto the bottom wall of housing '61 by means of the machine screws andnuts 66.

The small covers 67 on the outside ends of reels 62 and 63 house aratchet that engages and holds the reels stationary relative to theiraxes 6 8 until a light pull or tug is made on the respective tubularduct 14 or 41 such that the reel is disengaged and the internal torsionsprings within the reels 62 and 63 urge the same to reel up theirrespective tubes and maintain the ratchet disengaged by the applicationof the generated centrifugal force of the rotating reels until tubes 14or 41 have been fully retracted or otherwise stopped at a desired point.Such reels are commonly used on a large scale in other industries.

A rotary sealed journal 70 is provided on the internal hub of the reels62 and 63 to permit the transmission of sound and a gas under pressurefrom the respective tubes 14 and 41 through curved tubes 71 into thestationary metal cross-shaped coupling 72 which connects thetransmission duct therein to manometer 37 and to a pneumatic inflationmeans or pump which will have its flexible line connected to the nipple73 of the downwardly extending leg of the cross-shaped coupling 72 whichextends through the bottom of housing 61.

The housing 6-1 is preferably molded of a plastic such as fiber glass orthe like, such that it has smooth exterior contour and may be providedwith a removable back 74 to permit the front face 75, as shown in FIG.6, to be unitarily molded with the side faces of the housing 6-1.

In order to prevent the flexible tubes 14 and 4 1 from becoming damageddue to frictional engagement against their respective openings 76 and 77in face 75, four rollers 78 are provided in opposed relationship aboutthe respective opening 76. These rollers 78 are permitted to axiallyrotate on their respective axes 79 which are securely riveted to theface 75 of housing 61 by means of the rivets 80.

The housing 61 may be provided with any conventional mounting means suchthat it may be secured to a wall or clamped to a pole or the like toprovide any convenient storage location desired. Further convenience isprovided by the fact that earpiece 1 and cuff 45 may be readilyinterchanged in position.

The pneumatic inflation means or pump preferably employed with the unitas disclosed in FIGS. and 6, is a foot-operated pneumatic pump such asthat shown in FIGS. 7a and 7b. This foot-operated pump consists of aweighted base 80 having two foot-operated bellows 81 and 82 mounted onthe top thereof and hinged at 89.

Foot bellows 81 is operated to inflate the inflatable portion of bloodpressure cuff 45 via flexible tubing 83, cross-shaped coupler 72 of FIG.5 and flexible hose or duct 41. Foot pedal 82 is operated tocontrollably deflate the pneumatically inflated cuff 45.

Bellows 81 is provided with a check valve air inlet 84 and a check valveair outlet 85 which leads to passage 86 and flexible tube 83. Bellows 81is preferably spring biased to continually urge the same in itsunpressed condition.

Bellows or pedal 82 is operable to controllably deflate the air pressurewithin the inflatable portion of the blood pressure cuff 45 (andconsequently the pressure within passage 86) by releasing the plug valve88.

When bellows 82 is depressed, pedal 90 lying thereunder and supported onstem 91 is also depressed against the bias of compression spring 92,thereby pivoting link arm 93 about pivot 94 supported by the pivot arm95 in order to raise the plug 99 of the plug valve 88 to release the gasunder pressure retained within passage 86. Thus, by controlling theamount of depression of bellows 82 and pedal 90, one may readilyregulate the release of the gaseous pressure contained within theinflatable portion 46 of the blood pressure cuff 45.

In this manner the physician has both hands free in order to carry outother required tasks while obtaining a blood pressure reading within theshortest possible time.

I claim:'

1. A sphygmomanometer comprising a constriction blood pressure cuffhaving a pliable inflatable portion and means adapted to secure the sameabout a portion of the human body, stethoscope audio pickup means insaid cuff having a cavity to receive sound transmissions, a connectionduct connecting said cavity to a stethoscope earpiece having at leastone ear terminus, said duct together with said cavity and said earpieceproviding a sound transmission duct for transmission of sound from thesaid cavity to said ear terminus, said sound duct and the interior ofsaid inflatable portion being pneumatically connected, at least twospaced diaphragm means in said sound transmission duct pneumaticallysealing the interior of said inflatable portion from the cuff exteriorand from said ear terminus to permit the maintenance of a pneumaticpressure in said inflatable portion while permitting said soundtransmission to said ear terminus, inflating means and manometer meansconnected to said sound transmission duct at any position therealongwherein they are pneumatically exposed to the interior of saidinflatable portion to pneumatically inflate and deflate said inflatableportion and to indicate the pneumatic pressure retained thereinrespectively.

2. The sphygmomanometer of claim 1 characterized in that said at leasttwo spaced diaphragm means block said sound transmission duct adjacentits opposite ends.

3. The sphygmomanometer of claim 2 characterized by a further soundtransmission diaphragm. means pneumatically sealing said soundtransmission duct between said ear terminus of said earpiece and theadjacent of said spaced diaphragms.

4. The sphygmomanometer of claim 3 characterized by a check valve insaid sound transmission duct between said adjacent diaphragm and, saidfurther diaphragm means and operable to exhaust gas under pressure insaid duct to the exterior.

5. The sphygmomanometer of claim 1 characterized in that one of saidspaced diaphragm means comprises a wall portion of said inflatableportion of said blood pressure cuff, said wall portion pneumaticallysealing said cavity relative to the cuff exterior.

6. The sphygmomanometer of claim 1 characterized by a housing, biasedtube retraction means mounted in said housing and receiving a flexibleportion of said connection duct therethrough to permit withdrawal of adesired length of said flexible duct from said housing and automaticretraction thereof upon actuation of a release.

7. The sphygmomanometer of claim 6 characterized by second biased tuberetraction means mounted in said housing and receiving a second flexibleportion of said connection duct therethrough to permit withdrawal of adesired length of said flexible duct from. said housing and automaticretraction thereof upon actuation of a release, said cuff and audiopickup combination and said stethoscope earpiece connected to the twoexposed ends of said connection duct respectively.

8. The sphygmomanometer of claim 6 characterized in that said inflationmeans is a foot-operated air pump having foot-operated deflation means,said pump being connected to said sound transmission duct within saidhousing.

9. The sphygmomanometer of claim 8 characterized in that said manometeris mounted in said housing for exterior viewing.

10. A sphygmomanometer comprising an inflatable blood pressure cuffhaving means adapted to secure the same about a portion of the humanbody, a stethoscope audio pickup secured to said cuff, flexible ductmeans connected to said cuff and stethoscope pickup combination toprovide gas under pressure thereto for inflation of said cuff andadapted to convey sound from said pickup for ausculatory measurements ofblood pressure, a housing, biased tube retraction means mounted in saidhousing and receiving said flexible duct means through said housing topermit withdrawal of a desired length of said flexible duct therefromand automatic retraction thereof upon actuation of a release, astethoscope earpiece, a sound transmission duct having one end connectedto said earpiece and the other end received in said housing andconnected to the housing received end of said duct means adapted topermit the transmission of said sounds to the ear of an operator,pneumatic inflation means for the inflation and deflation of said cuff,a gas inflation duct having one end connected to the housing receivedend of said duct means to permit the inflation and deflation of saidcuff and an opposite end connected to said inflation means, andmanometer means in communication with said gas inflation duct.

'11. The sphygmomanometer of claim 10 characterized in that saidinflation means is a foot operated pneumatic pump having a foot operabledeflation release valve.

12. The sphygmomanometer of claim 10 characterized in that said flexibleduct means consists of two independent flexible tubes connected to saidpickup and said inflatable cuff respectively, said biased tuberetraction means consisting of a spring biased self-Wind spool havingreleasable lock means and pneumatic coupling means for independentconnection of said tubes to said spool With stationary independent axialoutlets for connection to their respective of said sound transmissionduct and pneumatic inflation duct.

13. The sphy-gmomanometer of claim 10 characterized by a second ductretraction means mounted in said housing and receiving a flexibleportion of said sound transmission duct to permit withdrawal of adesired length References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS RICHARD A. GAUDET,Primary Examiner K. L. HOWELL, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

thereof from said housing and automatic retraction there- 15 128M105 Sp;g

of upon actuation of a release.

